Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for tremors, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability due to inadequate development of evidence.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for further development.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims for ankle and shoulder disorders due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and a cervical spine disability, finding that the evidence did not establish a causal relationship between these disabilities and active service or to his service-connected multiple myeloma.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability, finding that the evidence did not support such an increase.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete STRs and outstanding VA/privately obtained treatment records. The Veteran is also requested to provide more specific information regarding his in-service injuries.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease is currently rated at 10 percent prior to June 1, 2016. The Board has found that a higher rating is not warranted.,For the issues of service connection for right shoulder dermatofibroma and TDIU, additional development is needed as they were previously remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, and left shoulder disorder due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to service. The VA is directed to provide new examinations and obtain addendum opinions addressing these issues.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted, but the claim for a right shoulder disorder is denied.

The Veteran is service-connected for multiple disabilities, including PTSD, cervical and lumbar spine conditions, and musculoskeletal issues. The Board found that the combination of these disabilities renders him unemployable but not solely due to any single disability. Therefore, he does not meet the criteria for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder was granted. The claims for left arm/shoulder and right arm/shoulder disabilities were denied, with the latter being remanded.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated as 30 percent disabling, but the Board has remanded this issue due to conflicting evidence and need for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, a right shoulder disability, and a lumbar disability, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not incurred during his active military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted service connection. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a back condition and a right shoulder condition due to lack of medical evidence.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for a bilateral eye disability due to her withdrawal of the appeal. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for further development and examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left shoulder disability and its relationship to his service-connected right shoulder disability. The Veteran will be afforded a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently present left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU from August 13, 2013 to February 24, 2017 is granted. The issues of service connection for GERD, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, a neck disability, and a right shoulder disability, as well as the request to reopen the claim of service connection for an eating disorder, are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left shoulder disabilities. The claim will be returned for further development and an addendum opinion from a qualified clinician.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder rotator cuff condition, right shoulder rotator cuff condition, and right wrist degenerative arthritis as no VA Form 10182 was submitted to appeal under the AMA framework.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for vertigo and left shoulder disability, as they were not adequately addressed in previous examinations. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.